<i>Solidago </i>plant named ‘Sugar Kisses’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of Solidago plant named ‘Sugar Kisses’ as illustrated and described, characterized by the combination of larger foliage, taller height, white ray florets and yellow disc florets.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Solidago plant named ‘Sugar Kisses’, substantially as illustrated and described, herein.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) FIG. 1. A budded stem on a 2 year old plant in July.

(2) FIG. 2. A flowering plant in August.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(3) In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 edition. Plants used for the description were grown for two seasons at a nursery in Hebron, Ill. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants. Botanical classification: Solidago hybrid ‘Sugar Kisses’. Parentage: Male or pollen parent an unknown Solidago, female or seed parent, Solidago ptarmicoides. Propagation: Vegetative division and stem cutting propagation. Root description: Fibrous, thin thickness, white in color. Root habit: Moderate branching, moderate density. Plant description: Herbaceous perennial. Overall habit of the new Solidago is an upright clump, with branching stems topped by white ray florets and yellow disc florets starting in August. Plant height.—60 cm. Plant width.—48 cm. Primary stem diameter.—8 mm. Primary and secondary stem description.—Branching, with 20 or more leaves per secondary stem. Leaves get smaller as they go up the stem. Strength — strong. Primary and lateral stem texture.—Glabrous. Secondary stem description.—Average 10 lateral stems per primary stem. Secondary stem length.—25 cm. Secondary stem diameter.—2 mm. Secondary stem internodes.—1-4 cm. Stem color.—146 A maturing to close to N200 A. Foliage: Type.—Herbaceous. Leaf arrangement.—Alternate, simple, sessile. Length.—21 cm. Width.—17 mm. Shape.—Lanceolate. Apex.—Acute. Base.—Accuminate. Margin.—Dentate. Texture.—Glabrous. Venation.—Pinnate. Venation Color — 146 D. Adaxial leaf description.—Color is 146 A including developing, fully expanded. Abaxial leaf description.—Color is 146 A including developing, fully expanded. Bud: Bud shape.—Ligulate. Bud length.—5-6 mm. Bud diameter.—3-4 mm. Bud color.—146 D. Inflorescence: Inflorescence type.—Compound corymb. Position.—Borne on both terminal and axillary peduncles above the foliage. Number of flowers per inflorescences.—Approximately 2200. Arrangement.—Disc and ray florets. Mature center disc.—5 mm wide and 5 mm height. Number of disc florets.—20, number of ray florets 10. Immature disc floret color.—2 B. Mature disc floret color.—Brown 200 A. Disc floret diameter.—1 mm or less at apex, less than 1 mm at base. Disc floret shape.—Rotate. Disc floret length.—7 mm. Disc floret width.—1 mm. Disc floret apex.—Acute. Disc floret margin.—Entire. Disc floret count.—20. Ray floret size.—5 mm length and 2 mm width. Ray floret color upon opening.—Light yellow Adaxial and Abaxial 2 D and in full bloom — Adaxial 155 D and Abaxial 155 D. Ray floret aspect.—Upright, then perpendicular to the peduncle. Ray floret shape.—Linear. Ray floret apex.—Truncate. Ray floret base.—Accuminate. Ray floret margin.—Entire. Ray floret count.—Approximately 10 per inflorescence. Ray floret texture.—Both the upper and lower surfaces are smooth, glabrous. Overall inflorescence size.—16 cm or more across in diameter with ray florets, 26 cm in height. Bloom period and duration.—August into September. 4-6 weeks on the plant. Blooming habit.—Upright on 45-60 cm terminal flowering stems. Phyllaries: Number of phyllaries per inflorescence.—10 average. Length.—5 mm. Width.—1 mm. Shape.—Lanceolate. Apex.—Mucronate. Base.—Fused. Margin.—Entire. Texture.—Both upper and lower surface glabrous. Color.—Adaxial 146 D and Abaxial 146 D. Peduncles: Length of both terminal and axillary peduncles.—15 cm. Diameter.—6 mm. Angle.—Erect to about 15 degrees from vertical. Strength.—Strong, Texture — glabrous, Color — 146 A. Reproductive organs: Androecium.—Quantity per disc floret, 5. Filament length.—6 mm. Filament color.—155 B. Anther shape.—Oblong. Anther length.—Less than 1 mm. Anther color.—8 A. Pollen amount.—Moderate. Gynoecium.—Present on ray and disc florets. Pistils.—One, length 7 mm, width less than 1 mm. Stigma shape.—Two parted, Stigma color — 8 A. Style length.—4 mm, Style color — 155 D. Scent.—No scent noticed. Seed and fruit: None observed Disease resistance: Resistance to diseases common to Solidago has not been observed on plants grown under nursery conditions. Hardiness: Plants of the new Solidago have been observed to be hardy to USDA Zone 5.